Court Abolishes 50-Year-Old Regulation on Student Hairstyles
The Supreme Administrative Court has annulled a 50-year-old regulation issued by the Education Ministry that severely restricted students’ hairstyles, marking the end of a long-standing controversy. The court’s ruling, announced on Wednesday, is final and resolves a divisive issue that had sparked conflicts between teachers, students, and parents.
The court ordered the immediate revocation of the regulation, which was first introduced in 1975. The decision was based on the grounds that the regulation violated individual freedoms protected by the constitution and was no longer in line with contemporary societal values. The court further stated that enforcing the rule had a negative impact on students and contradicted the provisions of the Child Protection Act of 2003.
The regulation, which had applied to students in schools under the ministry’s supervision, imposed strict guidelines on acceptable hairstyles for both male and female students. Boys were prohibited from growing facial hair and were required to keep their hair short, while girls were not allowed to grow their hair below their ears or wear makeup. The purpose of the regulation was to promote conformity and discipline, shaping students into what were perceived as ideal citizens for their families and the nation.
This regulation stemmed from an order issued by a military junta in 1972, which dictated what was considered an appropriate hairstyle for students. The court ruled that both the military regime’s order and the 1975 education ministry regulation could not be justified as being in the best interest of students.
The court’s final decision is considered a victory for 23 students who petitioned the Administrative Court in 2020 to revoke the regulation. In response to the ruling, the Education Ministry has allowed more flexibility in student hairstyles and dress codes since 2024, and now the matter of hairstyles will be left to the discretion of individual schools. Some schools may delegate the decision to parents, while others may involve the school’s executive body or a joint committee of teachers and parents.
Despite the legal resolution, reactions from the public remain mixed. The student activist group “Bad Student,” which has been vocal about the need for greater freedom in schools, expressed concern that some teachers still target students with long hair. One comment on their social media page warned that without clear penalties, teachers who adhere to old-school practices might continue to infringe on students’ rights.
Further commentary on social media pointed out that the focus of Thai education has often been on uniforms rather than equipping students with the skills needed for future success in the global economy. Bad Student, a movement advocating for more democratic practices in education, was initially formed to demand the ousting of the military government led by General Prayut Chan-o-cha, who seized power in the 2014 coup.
